Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) chats with defensive end Chris Casher (21) on the sidelines in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State beat Syracuse 59-3. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)

On Wednesday, with new information in a report by The New York Times indicating that Florida State University may have mishandled a rape investigation under the watch of former university president Eric Barron, advocates for victims of sexual violence said they were reluctant to take that as a sign of change at University Park.

In less than a month, Barron will assume the presidency of Penn State, following what the university’s trustees and presidential search committee have insisted has been a thoroughly vetted process, including that of the Florida State rape investigation.

An attorney for one of Sandusky’s victims and a member of the statewide advocacy group for sexual violence awareness said they did not think the hiring of Barron signaled a flawed hiring process or a change in the university’s commitment to being a leader against sexual violence.

Thomas R. Kline, the attorney who represented Victim 5 in the Sandusky trial, said he had up until now been satisfied that Penn State’s search committee had not found a barrier or impediment to Barron’s appointment in the top leadership role at the university.

But he said there was always the potential for additional facts to develop that could significantly change Penn State’s view of him.

Dr. Eric Barron, candidate for Florida State University President, answers questions from the Florida State University Board of Trustees, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

“My expectation when Barron surfaced was that Penn State had not gone with him unless they believed he was vetted that that problem was vetted out of the way,” he said. “But facts and circumstances change and it’s incumbent on Penn State to look at anything new that is both public and comes from a highly reputable and important source in national news.”

Kline pointed out that as someone who worked in an adversarial capacity with Penn State, its trustees, lawyers and negotiators during the Sandusky case, he has been impressed at the university’s commitment to become a leader against sexual violence on college campuses.

“I saw a heightened sensitivity to the need to make certain that problems of this nature didn’t occur again at Penn State,” Kline said. “I still believe there are good intentions by Penn State to see this doesn’t happen again. Having said that it’s incumbent on university trustees to carefully evaluate anything new that arises.”

In the aftermath of the Sandusky case, Penn State continues to pay the NCAA a $60 million fine. Sandusky is serving a life term in prison, convicted of sexually abusing 10 victims. Scores other civil lawsuits have been settled.

A statewide advocate against sexual violence echoed sentiments that Penn State does not appear to have compromised its commitment to fight sexual violence with what could be interpreted as a inadequately vetted hiring process of Barron.

“I feel we need to give Penn State credit for what they’ve done and I assume they made hiring and policy changes that are here to stay,” said Kristen Houser, of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

“They learned first-hand why it’s important. I don’t know that bringing in a new president involved in another high-profile case is necessarily a bad thing.”

According to The New York Times both the Tallahassee Police Department and Florida State appeared to mishandled the 2012 rape allegations against star quarterback Jameis Winston. The U.S. Department of Education has begun an investigation into whether the university violated federal law in its handling and reporting of the matter.

Houser said the report in The Times failed to directly point a finger at Barron.

“I don’t think any information has been damning,” she said. “It’s been more tangential. It noted he was head of the institution. The article didn’t give information as to what he knew and when he knew it.”

Houser noted that the majority of sexual assault complaints rarely make it into the criminal system. For that reason, Houser urged universities to adopt and follow rigorous mechanisms and responses to address allegations of sexual violence.

In the meantime, she said, Penn State had earned a measure of praise for its aggressive role in tackling sexual violence. Houser included staff additions, community programs and resources among them.

“We need to look at Penn State as a whole system and acknowledge a lot of progress and positive steps since the Sandusky case broke,” she said “Hopefully bringing in a president who has dealt with this in the national spotlight .. that he would support continuing doing the right thing and getting positive feedback.”

This report was updated to clarify a quote from Kristen Houser regarding the criminal system process.

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